Class of 2014 – Signed LOI

Class of 2014 – Signed Letter of Intent

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ISAIAH HOLLAND – OL

Just the facts … Signed on May 19th … Holland is an offensive tackle prospect from Valor Christian in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Holland is 6’4″, 320-pounds. Rivals bio  Scout bio

What others say about Holland … Holland, a member of the Recruiting Class of 2014, was rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals, but a three-star prospect by Scout. Holland was voted first team All-Colorado by the Denver Post and Mile High Sports Magazine. Holland, who started all 28 games as a junior and senior, and was ranked by Rivals as the No. 11 player out of the state of Colorado in 2013. Valor Christian won its fifth-straight state title last fall, taking out Fairview 56-16 in the title game. Holland did not allow a sack all season, and was credited with numerous touchdown producing blocks. Holland was one of Colorado’s 11 Scholar-Athletes as selected by the state’s chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame and intends to major in Mechanical Engineering at Colorado.

“This is like Christmas is May,” coach Mike MacIntyre told cubuffs.com after Holland signed, which increased the count of high school players to 20 in his 2014 recruiting class, five now being top prospects from Colorado.  “It’s a great for us to sign another player from Colorado, we want them here and are glad that Isaiah turned to us when West Point was no longer an option for him.  He’s also a legacy recruit, you mention his father’s name and everybody recalls what kind of player he was for the Buffaloes.”

Holland is the son of former Buff Darius Holland, who played defensive tackle for the Buffs from 1991-94 before being drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 1995 NFL draft. As part of his ten year NFL career, Holland picked up a Super Bowl ring with the Packers in 1996.

Holland had other offers from … most notably Army. Holland committed to Army in February, but did not gain admission. Holland was also holding offers from a number of Pac-12 schools, including Arizona State, Oregon State, and Washington State. As to his Army commitment, Holland posted the following on his Facebook page: “Due to unforeseen circumstances in the admissions process, I was recently denied admissions to West Point. While this was disappointing, God gave me another exciting opportunity for my future. On May 19th, I accepted a full ride football scholarship to the University of Colorado”.

Here is a link to Holland’s Hudl.com highlights.

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LEO JACKSON III – DL

Just the facts … Signed March 22nd … Jackson is a defensive lineman prospect from Decatur, Georgia. Jackson is 6’4″, 260-pounds  Rivals bio

What others say about Jackson … Jackson was unrated out of high school, and, though a full-qualifier, did not sign with a four-year college out of high school. Instead, Jackson played this past season at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, California. This past season, for the 2-8 Owls (playing in eight of those games), Jackson had 24 tackles and two sacks.

Jackson will enroll this summer, and will have four years left to play three.

Mike MacIntyre and Foothill College … This is not the first time Mike MacIntyre and Co. have looked to Foothill College for help. In 2011, MacIntyre picked up three players from Foothill College, including offensive lineman John Meyer, who went on to become a three-year starter for San Jose State. Over the past few seasons, players from Foothill College have been signed by a number of schools, including: Oregon State; BYU, Louisiana Tech; Hawai’i; Nevada; Boise State; Utah State; and Indiana.

Here is a link to Jackson’s Hudl highlights from this past season

Here is a picture from Twitter of Leo Jackson signing on to become a Colorado Buffalo:

JAISEN SANCHEZ – DB

Just the facts … Committed November 18th … Sanchez is a defensive back prospect from Honolulu, Hawai’i. Sanchez is 6’1″, 185-pounds.  Rivals bio Scout bio

What others say about Sanchez … Sanchez is considered by both Rivals and Scout to be a two-star prospect. Rivals does rate Sanchez as the No. 5 player out of Hawai’i this season. Sanchez recorded 35 tackles, 14 pass break ups and three interceptions this past fall. He won league honors in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.6-seconds as a junior, and also clocked in at 11.41-seconds in the 100-meter dash during track season last spring.

Sanchez had other offers from … only Hawai’i amongst FBS schools, although UCLA had shown interest. His only other reported offers were from Weber State, Portland State, and Southern Utah, all members of the Big Sky Conference.

In his own words … “I couldn’t picture myself playing anywhere else,” Sanchez told BuffPlaybook.com upon his commitment. “I really like what Coach Mike MacIntyre and his staff are doing at Colorado.”

Here is a YouTube video with Jaisen Sanchez highlights:

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SAM BENNION – DL

Just the facts … Committed August 14th … Bennion is a defensive line prospect from Logan, Utah. Bennion is 6’5″, 243-pounds. Rivals bio  Scout bio

What others say about Bennion … Bennion is considered to be a two-star prospect by both Rivals and Scout. As a senior, Bennion had 63 tackles (39 solo) with 9 1/2 sacks, and was named an honorable mention all-state player, also receiving all-region and all-Valley honors. As a junior, Bennion was also named as an honorable mention all-state player after recording 52 tackles and 10 sacks.

Bennion had other offers from …  Utah, Weber State, and several Ivy League schools like Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth, so qualifying this commit is likely not going to be an issue. Bennion received interest from Oregon, USC, and Washington after his commitment, but stuck with Colorado.

In his own words … Bennion is a name which Buff fans are going to have to put away into their memory banks for a few years. Bennion is going to take a Mormon mission for two years before coming to Boulder. Bennion graduated in December, and sent in his Letter of Intent from Mexico, where he is taking Spanish lesson before taking off for his mission to Chile. If this works out, Bennion could come back to Boulder as a strong, mature defensive lineman. “They’re great academically,” Bennion told the Daily Camera about CU. “They take their academics seriously there and the people that they are recruiting are really good, high-character people who work hard and love the game and also want to do other things besides football like studying and getting a degree in something useful”.

Here are You Tube highlights of Sam Bennion in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTUxfxL3SQo

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JASE FRANKE – DL

Just the facts … Committed August 12th … Franke is a defensive line prospect from Ventura, California. Franke is 6’4″, 255- pounds. Rivals bio  Scout bio

What others say about Franke … Franke is considered by Scout to be a three-star prospect, and was considered by Rivals to be a three-star prospect last summer, but has since downgraded him to a two-star prospect. Scout has him listed as the No. 118 defensive end in the nation. This past season, Franke had 42 tackles (22 solo), including two sacks (Franke played in only seven games due to an injury). 247Sports.com gave Franke an 83 rating, with best attributes considered to be strength and “motor”, with weaknesses being athleticism and “hand quickness”. Brandon Huffman, for Scout.com, had this to say about Franke: “Jase has had a terrific spring, looking great at two different camps I saw him at and when I visited his school in the spring, before he had any offers, he was a guy who really caught my eye.  I think his best football is ahead of him, too”.

Franke had other offers from … Arizona, Boise State, Miami (OH), New Mexico State, San Diego State and San Jose State. Arizona State, UCLA, Virginia, Penn State, Maryland and Boise State were showing interest. For a good part of the summer, it appeared that Arizona was the clear leader for Franke’s services. In fact, after visiting Tucson – and Arizona’s new facilities – in late July it appeared that Franke was going to be a Wildcat. “I might still get out to Colorado next month, just to observe and see what it’s like, but I’m not completely sure,” Franke told WildcatAuthority.com on July 30th. “I would like to be able to compare Arizona to another place, so the visit is a possibility”. Well, Franke did visit during the media day weekend in August, and committed to Colorado soon thereafter.

In his own words … “I think he is going to turn the program back into a powerhouse,” Franke told BuffPlayBook.com. “Colorado finally has the right staff for that type of production on winning championships.”

Here are Jase Franke’s senior year YouTube highlights:

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EVAN WHITE – DB

Just the facts … Committed July 7th … White is a defensive back prospect from Aurora (Cherokee Trail) Colorado. White is 6’3″, 190-pounds, and reportedly runs a 4.54 in the 40. Rivals bio  Scout bio

What others say about White … White is considered to be a three-star prospect by Rivals, but a two-star prospect by Scout. Rivals rates White as the No. 7 prospect from the State of Colorado this season, while Scout had White as the No. 169 safety nationally, but later took him off their board.

White was named All-League, All-Conference, and All-State in Colorado in both his junior and senior seasons. This past year, White had 46 tackles (26 solo), including four interceptions and four tackles for loss. White also had ten catches for 140 yards, and even had a 74-yard kickoff return. In the state title game, Cherokee Trail fell to Valor Christian, but White did his part, picking off two passes.

As a junior, White had 88 tackles (46 solo), and seven interceptions. He also had 17 catches at wide receiver for 231 yards and two touchdowns. White clocked in at 11.39-seconds in the 100-meter dash, 22.25-seconds in the 200 and helped Cherokee Trail to a state championship in the 4×2-relay during track this past spring.

White had other offers from … Colorado State and New Mexico State. Other schools reportedly showing an interest in White included Nebraska, UCLA, Washington, Boise State, Arizona State and Tulsa. Academics has been an issue for White, which may have had an impact on his offers. For his part, though, White does not seem qualification as an issue. “I am retaking classes”, White told ColoradoPrepReport.com in May. “By the end of the semester, they should be better grades”.

In his own words … “I have known for a while this is where I wanted to go,” White said. “It just feels right, I really like the coaches a lot and felt it was the best place for me.”

Here are YouTube highlights of White’s senior season:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlQyTnkztcQ

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SHAY FIELDS – WR

Just the facts … Committed to USC on October 24th, de-committed January 21st, committed to Colorado January 27th … Fields is a 5’10”, 170-pound wide receiver from Bellflower, California. Rivals bio Scout bio

What others say about Fields … Fields is considered to be a four-star prospect by Rivals, and a three-star prospect by Scout. Rivals rates Fields as the No. 44 wide receiver in the nation, and the No. 36 player out of California this season overall. Scout lists Fields as the No. 74 wide receiver in the nation. Fields played for the undefeated state champion St. John Bosco, of Bellflower, California, with the Braves not only being ranked No. 1 in the state, but also ranked by MaxPreps as the No. 1 high school team in the nation. This past season, Fields had 82 catches for 1,617 yards (an impressive 19.72 yards per catch) and 17 touchdowns. Some of Fields’ post-season honors: MaxPreps Division 1 All-State, Long Beach Press Telegram Dream Team, Wave Newspapers All-East Region, Southern Section Pac-5 Offensive Player of the Year, 247 Ranking – No. 82, Semper Fidelis All-American Game.

Fields had other offers from … over a dozen schools. Most notably, Fields was originally a USC commit, but de-committed in what has been described as a mutual parting of the ways. Fields also had offers from Cal and Utah from the Pac-12, as well as TCU, Boise State, Nevada and San Diego State.

In his own words … Fields visited Colorado the weekend of January 18th, and visited Cal before making his decision. “Colorado was a great visit, I loved it there,” Fields told Scout.com after his visit to Boulder. “The city of Boulder is a great college town and a beautiful area. I like the coaching staff a lot and spent a ton of time with WR Coach Troy Walters. He was an All-American at Stanford and is someone I know I could learn a lot from.

“He told me I would have a great chance to not just play early there but he thinks I have the ability to be a freshman All-American. They have a big need for receivers and the depth chart sets up really well for me. I like the offense a lot and I think they’re building something there. They won four games last season but I think they’ll be able to improve those numbers and it would be cool to be a part of helping to turn the program around”.

Here are some YouTube highlights from Fields’ senior season:

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CADE APSAY – QB

Just the facts … Committed June 18th … Apsay is a quarterback prospect from Canyon Country, California. Apsay is 6’2″, 176-pounds. Rivals bio  Scout bio

What others say about Apsay … Apsay is considered to be a three-star quarterback by both Rivals and Scout. Rivals rates Apsay as the No. 84 player out of the state of California this season, and the No. 24 pro-style quarterback nationally. Scout has Apsay listed as the No. 70 quarterback nationally.

This past season, for the 8-3 Canyon Cowboys, Apsay threw for 3,103 yards, with 28 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He completed 207 of his 321 passes, a .645 completion percentage. Apsay also ran the ball 110 times for 413 yards and four more touchdowns. For his efforts, Apsay was named the Foothills League overall MVP.

As a junior, Apsay threw for 3,333 yards, with 39 touchdown passes to 14 interceptions on 206-of-346 passing. He also ran for 341 yards and 15 touchdowns. In being voted as the Foothills Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Apsay set a number of school records, including: Passing Yards Single-Game Record = 415 yards (surpassed by a 419 yard effort in a game in his senior year); Passing TD Single-Game Record = 5; Passing TD Single-Season = 39; Passing Completions Single-Season = 206; Passing Yards Single-Season = 3,333; and Passing Yards per Game Single-Season = 277.

Apsay had other offers from … Arizona, New Mexico, Northern Colorado and Eastern Washington. Apsay did have interest from a number of other schools, including Oregon State, UCLA, Boise State and San Diego State. Apsay committed in June, which may have kept other schools from offering last fall.

In his own words … “There are reasons I swayed toward them: the coaches, the school itself, the education I would get, when I went to visit I really loved what I saw from the campus,” Apsay told the Santa Clarita Valley Signal when he committed in June. “I really believe coach MacIntyre and his staff can turn it around there. I’m really confident when I come I can make my mark on that turnaround … They really showed me who they are as coaches and people, especially coach Bernardi. He was straight up with me. We hit it off well.”

Did Apsay re-think his commitment, with CU starting a true freshman this past fall? Not in the least. “I’m not concerned about that,” Apsay told BuffPlayBook.com in November. “If anything, it shows me that this coaching staff will play the best player on the team and not play someone who is a junior or senior. Sefo is a good quarterback, the competition next summer and fall camp will be great. I’m a competitor, and I’m not afraid of coming in and fighting for the job next fall. Whoever is the best quarterback will play.”

Apsay is apparently very excited about his future with Colorado. “I’m so excited it’s hard for me to explain and put into words,” Apsay said. “We got the chance to tailgate a little on Saturday (Apsay attended the CU game at UCLA on November 2nd), I couldn’t believe how many Colorado fans that were there. Everyone is so nice. Colorado is such an incredible and beautiful place, I know it’s where I belong”.

YouTube highlights of Apsay:

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DONOVAN LEE – DB/WR/RB/KR

Just the facts … Committed December 12th … Lee is a 5’8″, 162-pound athlete from West Hills, California. Lee is the Chamiande high school teammate of linebacker Rick Gamboa, who committed to the Buffs back in June. Rivals bio  Scout bio

What others say about Lee … Lee is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and Scout. The thing is, Rivals has Lee rated as a three-star cornerback, the No. 85 player out of the state of California this season. Scout, meanwhile, has Lee as a three-star wide receiver, the No. 101 wide receiver nationally (Lee will likely be a cornerback / kick returner at Colorado). This past season, Lee put up great stats – as a wide receiver? As a cornerback? No. As a running back. Lee had 229 carries for 1,804 yards (a 7.88 ypc average) and 36 (36!) touchdowns. Lee also had 27 catches for 560 yards (over 20 yards per catch) and four more touchdowns. On defense, Lee had 112 tackles (92 solo), with eight interceptions and two fumble recoveries. The state champion Chaminade Eagles finished the season with a 12-2 record, ranked as the No. 4 team in California, and the No. 18 team nationally.

Scout.com had this assessment of Lee … A running back and defensive back for his Chaminade team, Lee is undersized at running back but ideal size for cornerback or slot receiver on the next level. Though small, he’s tough as nails and will run the ball between the tackles or come up and deliver a hit on defense. He has a good change of direction and good field vision. Also an adept return man. Best position long term could be corner.

Lee had other offers from … Oregon State, Colorado State, San Jose State, Wyoming, Idaho and Eastern Washington. Lee, along with teammate Gamboa, were in Boulder for the spring game and Junior Day.

In his own words … or, better yet, from his coach: “Donovan is also a very good return guy so he will help Colorado out in that area probably,” Chaminade head coach Ed Croson told BuffStampede.com. “People always asked me, ‘what position should he play in college?’ And I would say, ‘the ball-haver.’ He should be the guy that has the ball … here is no question he was viewed (at 5’8″) as just a couple inches short but I think there are some schools that are going to regret that because he is that good. Colorado is getting a good one.”

Here are some YouTube highlights of Lee:

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JOSH KAISER – OL

Just the facts … Committed December 15th … Kaiser is a 6’5″, 265-pound offensive lineman from Mission Viejo, California. Rivals bio  Scout bio

What others say about Kaiser … Kaiser is rated as a two-star prospect by both Scout and Rivals. Scout lists Kaiser as the No. 109 offensive guard in the nation. While not highly rated himself, Kaiser played for a very good team, however. Mission Viejo went 11-1 this past fall, and finished the season ranked as the No. 6 team in the state of California, and the No. 36 team in the nation.

Kaiser had other offers from … no one, at least until Colorado offered. After Kaiser committed to the Buffs, he heard from Oregon State and UNLV. Part of the reason behind Kaiser not getting much attention this season is that this was his first year on the offensive side of the ball. Kaiser was a defensive end last season, when most of the recruiting service ratings are first established. Kaiser, who won’t even turn 18 until April is another example of what could be called a “reach” by the CU coaching staff, as Kaiser is new to his position. Or, Kaiser could prove to be, after a red-shirt season, an extra year of conditioning, and some good coaching, a “diamond in the rough” that the CU coaching staff spotted, and other schools missed.

In his own words … “I’d say I kind of thrived in everything,” Kaiser told BuffStampede.com. “[Mission Viejo] coach [Bob] Johnson gave me an opportunity at left tackle and I took it and ran with it. I could pass block well and run block well … I was really excited about Colorado and the fact they are in the process of building up their program. I really bought into what they were saying so I accepted their offer.”

Here is a link to highlights from Hudl.com from Kaiser’s senior season.

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SULLY WIEFELS – OL

Just the facts … Committed February 3rd … Wiefels is a 6’4″, 305-pound offensive lineman from Eagle, Idaho, by way of American River Community College. Rivals bio Scout bio

What others say about Wiefels … Wiefels is considered to be a three-star prospect by Rivals, but only a two-star prospect by Scout. A junior college graduate, Wiefels will have three years to play two at Colorado. According to jcgridiron.com: “American River College had one of the better offensive lines on the West Coast this season and guard Sully Wiefels was a big part of the equation. Wiefels is a big and physical player at 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, and is a two-time all-Valley Conference selection, which is one of the top-tier conferences in Northern California. At No. 8 on our list (of top junior college offensive linemen), Wiefels played a lot of right tackle as well for the Beavers, and his video shows a guy with good strength and the desire to finish his blocks”.

Wiefels had other offers from … most notably, Colorado State. Wiefels committed to the Rams after visiting in December. Last summer, Wiefels had committed to Hawai’i, but quickly changed his mind and was uncommitted for most of the fall. Wiefels also had offers from Texas State, Idaho and Sacramento State, and also took an official visit to Cal in January.

Here is a link to Hudl.com highlights of Wiefels at American River College

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MICHAEL MATHEWES – DL

Just the facts … Committed December 15th … Mathewes is a 6’4″, 235-pound defensive end from Mission Viejo, California He reportedly runs a 4.85 in the 40. Rivals bio Scout bio

What others say about Mathewes … Mathewes is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, but only a two-star player by Scout. Mathewes played for a very good team this past season. Mission Viejo went 11-1 this past fall, and finished the season ranked as the No. 7 team in the state of California, and the No. 35 team in the nation. A few of Mathewes’ post-season honors: Max Preps Division 1 All-State Team; Los Angeles Times All-Area Team, Southern Section All-Pac 5 Division Team, Orange County Register All-County Team, South Coast League Defensive Player of the Year. On the season, Mathewes had 14 sacks.

Mathewes had other offers from … a half dozen other schools, including Army, Air Force, Nevada and Yale. Mathewes did take an official visit to Nevada in December, the week before he visited Boulder and committed to the Buffs. Mathewes received late interest from Oklahoma, Arizona State, and Vanderbilt, but stayed loyal to the Buffs.

In his own words … I’m really impressed with what these coaches accomplished at San Jose State,” Mathewes told BuffPlayBook.com. “I feel certain they are going to turn the Colorado Football program around as well”. As to the position he will play for the Buffs, Mathewes, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound defensive linemen, said is expected to play defensive end for Colorado unless he grows into a defensive tackle. “Right now they are saying defensive end,” Mathewes said. “It all depends on how much I grow once I get to college”.

Here are some YouTube highlights from Mathewes’ senior season:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwE2R3sHhDU

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HAYDEN JONES – TE

Just the facts … Committed December 12th … Jones is a 6’6″, 235-pound tight end prospect from Sacramento, California. Rivals bio  Scout bio

What others say about Jones … Jones is rated as a two-star prospect by both Scout and Rivals. Scout had rated Jones as the No. 98 tight end in the nation when he committed, but has since taken him out of their top 100 list. NorCalPreps.com, affiliated with Rivals, had this to say about Jones back on September 26th: “It’s not difficult to see why Colorado and other schools are giving Jones a look. He should get serious three-star consideration simply because of his frame, his aggressive mentality and the fact that he can be an asset in the running game and passing game … That and the fact that there are no major or glaring liabilities make him a clear BCS-caliber player”.

This past season, playing for the 9-4 Christian Brothers Falcons, was named his division’s Player of the Year and was a first-team all-metro selection. He caught a total of 57 passes for 838 yards for Christian Brothers the past two seasons, including 35 catches for 499 yards and two touchdowns this past season. Jones is currently busy playing center for his high school basketball team. Depending on how much more growing Jones does, he may be placed at offensive tackle or defensive end by the CU coaching staff – Jones had 15 tackles, including tackles for loss, four sacks and seven hurries while playing defense this past season.

Jones had other offers from … About half of the conference … the Mountain West Conference, that is. Jones had offers from Boise State, Colorado State, Air Force, Nevada, Fresno State and Wyoming. Jones reported interest from several Pac-12 schools, including UCLA and Washington, but there were no confirmed offers from these schools.

In his own words … They definitely want me as a tight end but then like all coaches say, they will just see where my body goes in the future,” Jones told BuffStampede.com. “I don’t know if I am going to redshirt yet or if they want me to play right away because they only have three tight ends right now, so we’ll see.”

Here is a link to Hudl.com highlights from Jones’ senior season.

And here are some YouTube highlights of Hayden Jones:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OYWG12CSCw

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DYLAN KEENEY – TE

Just the facts … Committed July 1st … Keeney is a tight end prospect from Granite Bay, California. Keeney is 6’6″, 210-pounds, and runs a 4.6 in the 40. Rivals bio  Scout bio

What others say about Keeney … Keeney is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and Scout. Scout has Keeney rated as the No. 43 tight end in the nation, and the No. 9 tight end in the West. NorCalPreps.com had this to say about Keeney, who also plays linebacker: “Long, rangy and more athletic than many realize, Keeney checks in at around 6-foot-5 and a solid 210-pounds with no bad weight. His frame is going to allow him to get significantly better”. As a senior, Keeney had 40 catches for 791 yards and a team-high 13 touchdowns. Despite being his first full season at the position, Keeney received many accolades: Max Preps Division 1 All-State Team; Sacramento Bee All-Metro Team, MaxPreps All-NorCal Team, MaxPreps All-Sac-Joaquin Section Team, MaxPreps All-Sac-Joaquin Section Team, Sierra Foothill League Offensive MVP, National Football Foundation All-Sac Joaquin Section Team, 247 Ranking – No. 78.

Keeney had other offers from … A number of western schools, including Wyoming, Nevada, Idaho, San Jose State, Sacramento State and Eastern Washington. Keeney is another prospect whose offer sheet could have been affected by his switching to offense after playing linebacker last season, and the fact that he committed so early to Colorado.

In his own words … “I have been thinking about it a lot lately,” Keeney told BuffPlayBook.com when he committed last summer. “I really felt comfortable at Colorado and with their coaching staff. They made me feel very much at home.” Keeney was very impressed with the Colorado campus and the surrounding area. According to Keeney, Colorado is recruiting him to play tight end, he appears to have made a great relationship with new Tight-End/Running back coach Klayton Adams. “Coach Adams is great,” Keeney said. “You can tell he is a great coach, it was great going to camp with him to see how he coaches. He is very easy to talk to about anything.”

Still, Keeney knows he has some work to do if he intends to play tight end in the Pac-12. “I worked on being a tight end all summer, got coached up pretty good and that is what made it feel natural and allowed me to just go out there and play football,” Keeney told BuffStampede.com. “I enjoyed playing tight end … Keeney measured in at 6-foot-6, 210-pounds during his visit – too light to play tight end. “Right before the season I was about 218-pounds so I could put that on really fast, which I am working on,” he said. “I am going to try to be at around 225-pounds by the time I get there, which I think I will be able to do.”

Here are YouTube highlights from Keeney’s senior season:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RRXEKbA7a4

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RICK GAMBOA – LB

Just the facts … Committed June 29th … Gamboa is a linebacker prospect from West Hills, California. Gamboa is 6’0″, 217-pounds. Rivals bio  Scout bio

What others say about Gamboa … Gamboa is considered to be a three-star linebacker by both Rivals and Scout. Rivals rates Gamboa as the No. 95 overall player out of the state of California this season. Gamboa was rated by Scout as one of the top five linebackers in California, having this to say about him: “Gamboa is a rugged inside ‘backer and one of the biggest hitters in the state. He’s very smart and has an innate ability to quickly read and react to a player. He controls the defense and has a tireless work ethic. He looks to have put on about 15 pounds in the last year and playing against one of the toughest schedules in the state”.

In three seasons at Chaminade, Gamboa racked up over 450 tackles, helping the Eagles to a 14-2 record and a state championship this past fall. In 2012, as a junior, Gamboa was named Mission League Defensive Player of the Year. Gamboa was also named the Daily News all-area Defensive Player of the Year, all-state and all-CIF after recording 160 tackles, eight sacks and one interception as a junior. Gamboa was even an all-state performer as a sophomore in 2011. Gamboa’s former teammate, wide receiver Elijah Dunston, was a member of the CU recruiting Class of 2013.

He is a great leader,” Gamboa’s head coach Ed Croson told BuffPlayBook.com. “He is a very heads up tough football player. He runs our entire defense, he is a very smart young man and it shows on the football field. He is a great engineer for us on defense … I think Colorado fans will love him,” Croson said. “It’s a great fit for him, he is a stud of a football player, he is an extremely hard worker.”

Gamboa had other offers from … only Idaho and UTEP, but Gamboa reportedly had interest from other schools, including Washington, Fresno State, Boise State, Oregon State, TCU, Utah and San Jose State. Gamboa committed to Colorado last summer, which might have had an influence on his offer sheet, as Gamboa remained a solid verbal to CU throughout the recruiting process.

In his own words … “It’s always been a dream of mine to play in the Pac 12,” Gamboa told BuffPlayBook.com. “I fell in love with Colorado on my visit there this spring, I decided today it was time (this past June) to make my decision … Coach MacIntyre told me that I made him a very happy man. He said he couldn’t wait to get me back on campus and that he was very excited to have me a part of his family … I loved the way he turned the San Jose State football program around. He is very passionate about returning Colorado to its winning ways. I want to be a part of that.”

Here are some YouTube highlights of Rick Gamboa:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg2Ko3oxocg

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JAY MacINTYRE – Athlete

Just the facts … Committed February 4th … MacIntyre is a 5’10”, 178-pound athlete from Louisville, Colorado. Rivals bio Scout bio

What others say about MacIntyre … MacIntyre is considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and Scout. Rivals lists MacIntyre as the No. 10 player out of the state of Colorado this season, while Scout considers MacIntyre to be the No. 129 safety in the nation. This past season, MacIntyre accounted for 1,682 yards of total offense and 1,298 all-purpose yards in 97 touches, an impressive average of 13.4 yards per play. Despite his offensive numbers, MacIntyre is expected to play safety or receiver for the Buffs (he will not play quarterback).

MacIntyre had other offers from … a few other schools, most notably Wyoming and Air Force. MacIntyre also had offers from numerous schools … to play basketball.

Here is a link to Hudl.com highlights from MacIntyre’s senior season at Monarch high in Louisville.

Meanwhile, here are some YouTube highlights from MacIntyre’s junior season in San Jose State:

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TERRAN HASSELBACH – DE

Just the facts … Committed January 10th … Hasselbach is a 6’2″, 235-pound athlete from Regis Jesuit high in Aurora, Colorado. Rivals bio  Scout bio

What others say about Hasselbach … Hasselbach is considered by Rivals to be a two-star prospect, while Scout has him rated as a three-star player. Rivals rates Hasselbach as the No. 12 player out of the state of Colorado this season, while Scout has him rated as the No. 155 defensive end in the country. Hasselbach has had a tough start to his career, as a car accident kept him from playing his first two years. He then had a shoulder injury which deprived him of his junior year – and left him off the radar for many recruiting services. Hasselbach bounced back to be named an all-state performer in his senior campaign, earning the honor of being named the Colorado Mile High Sports Comeback Player of the Year. This past fall, Hasselbach recorded 78 tackles, 11 sacks, 35 quarterback hurries and three caused fumbles.

Hasselbach had other offers from … about a dozen schools, but none of them from a BCS conference. New Mexico State, Western Michigan, and Florida International were his only 1-A offers. Hasselbach committed to Western Michigan in December, but when Zach Brown de-committed so that he could find a school closer to his home in San Diego, a scholarship opened up. Colorado offered, and Hasselbach, son of 11-year NFL veteran Harold Hasselbach, accepted.

In his own words … “I knew if (Colorado) did offer me, I couldn’t say no,” Hasselbach told Scout.com. “When they said I could play defensive end and contribute as a freshman, I knew it was it … Coach Mac, I love him. I had a chance to meet with him on my official and I believe in him firmly and I talk to people outside of him who speak highly of him. I look forward to playing for him”. After missing most of the first three years of high school football, Hasselbach shined as a senior, and he thinks he’s just getting started. “I don’t think I’ve even hit my peak,” said Hasselbach. “I want to improve every year and I look forward to developing myself.”

Here are YouTube highlights from Hasselbach’s senior season:

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EDDY LOPEZ – DL

Just the facts … Committed August 5th … Lopez is a defensive line prospect from El Paso, Texas. Lopez is 6’3″, 289-pounds. Rivals bio  Scout bio

What others say about Lopez … Lopez is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, but only a two-star player by Scout. Lopez reported that he has gained 40 pounds between his junior and senior years, which may help account for lower ratings. This past season, Lopez was named El Paso Times Co-Defensive Player of the Year and was also first-team all-District, helping Coronado improve from 4-6 in 2012 to 8-3 and a District 1-5A championship this past season. Lopez was credited with 69 tackles, including 45 solo and 12 for a loss, and four sacks. As a junior, Lopez posted 41 tackles (27 solo) and 3.5 sacks.

Lopez had other offers from … only UTEP. Lopez did attend a camp at Texas last summer, where he reportedly turned some heads. Lopez might not have had many offers due to his not being a large enough defensive end as a junior, combined with his early solid verbal to Colorado.

In his own words … “When I met my future teammates and saw exactly how close they are with all of the coaches, that impressed me,” Lopez told BuffPlayBook.com after his official visit in January. “It’s truly like a very close family, there are great guys on the team and they really love their coaches. They definitely made me feel really welcomed this past weekend … When we went to the basketball game Saturday, it was amazing on how many fans came up to Coach MacIntyre and everyone told him how proud they were he was CU’s Football Coach, that was impressive,” Lopez said. “I really like him a lot. You can tell he is a great guy, a tremendous coach and will do great things here.”

Here is a link to some highlights on Hudl.com

And here are some YouTube highlights of Lopez in action:

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CHRISTIAN SHAVER – DL

Just the facts … Committed August 28th … Shaver is a defensive line prospect from Sandy, Utah. Shaver is 6’3″, 215-pounds. Rivals bio  Scout bio

What others say about Shaver … Shaver is considered by both Rivals and Scout to be a two-star prospect. Shaver was a first-team all-region selection last fall. Shaver recorded 59 tackles, six-and-a-half sacks and nine pressures as a senior. Jordan was under .500, at 4-5, before winning three-in-a-row, including two games in the playoffs. They reached the state semifinals for the fourth straight year.

BuffPlayBook.com’s take on Shaver: “He has an oustanding burst of speed off the line of scrimmage. A young man in great shape, looks to have the body frame to get bigger. Don’t be surprised if Shaver will player either defensive end for Colorado or possibly outside linebacker. Definitely has good speed and is a good pick up for the Buffs”.

Shaver had other offers from … Utah and Hawai’i. Arizona State and Utah State were also interested, but Shaver committed early, and never wavered from his commitment.

Video highlights of Shaver’s junior year from Hudl.com can be found here.

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GRANT WATANABE – ILB

Just the facts … Committed May 29th … Watanabe is an inside linebacker prospect from San Antonio, Texas. Watanabe is 5’10”, 225-pounds. Rivals bio Scout bio

What others say about Watanabe … Watanabe is rated as a three-star linebacker by both Rivals and Scout. Rivals lists Watanabe as the No. 93 player out of the state of Texas this season, while Scout considers Watanabe as the No. 38 middle linebacker in the nation (the highest rating for any new Buff in the eyes of Scout). In limited action this past year (Watanabe had a knee injury and a hamstring injury during the season, going on to play in the state championship game with a broken foot), Watanabe had 74 tackles (25 solo), with seven tackles for loss, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. In the title game, which Brennan lost 31-14, Watanabe was still named the defensive MVP.

Watanabe was named the Defensive Player of the Year in San Antonio in 2012 after he recorded 167 tackles, 27 for a loss, three sacks and four interceptions. He was also a junior All-American, first-team all-state, first-team all-city and unanimous first-team all-district selection. Grant’s older brother, Ethan Watanabe, is a tight end at Hawai’i. Watanabe has two uncles that played collegiately at BYU. And he currently has three relatives playing in the NFL: cousin Stanley Havili plays fullback for the Indianapolis Colts, uncle Tony Moeaki plays tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and second cousin Paul Soliai plays defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins … impressive lineage.

Watanabe had other offers from … only Utah, though there was considerable interest in Watanabe this spring as he made the rounds. Watanabe was in Colorado before touring the state of Texas, taking in a UTSA practice, visiting SMU, and then attending Baylor’s spring game. He then visited SMU the following day before heading to the Dallas Nike Football Training Camp. Watanabe also tripped to Boise State and Utah.

In his own words … “They are wanting me to come in and start as a true freshman either at the will or mike linebacker position,” Watanabe told BuffPlayBook.com. “It all up to me. On how good shape I am when I get to camp and how hard I’m willing to work. I’m going to give it everything I have”.

YouTube highlights of Grant Watanabe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_zHZSRE6po

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ISAAC MILLER – OL

Just the facts … Committed May 24th … Miller is an offensive tackle prospect from Longmont, Colorado. Miller is 6’ 7″, 250-pounds. Rivals bio  Scout bio Hudl video highlights

What others say about Miller … Miller is rated as a three-star offensive lineman by both Scout and Rivals. Miller is rated by Rivals as the No. 6 prospect out of the state of Colorado this year, while Scout has Miller rated as the No. 100 offensive tackle in the nation. Some of Miller’s accolades: All Region First Team bocopreps.com … All State First Team 3A Denver Post … All State First Team 3A CHSCA, Academic All State. Miller’s team won the state championship his junior year, and made it to the state finals this past fall.

Miller has a 4.2 GPA, so qualifying should not be an issue. “I’m extremely excited for Isaac for a lot of reasons,” Raptors head coach Mike Apodaca told the Daily Camera after Miller became CU’s first commit of the 2014 Class last spring. “One, he can concentrate now on his senior year, both academically and athletically. That’s a great thing when you have that out of the way. And I’m excited for Isaac to be close, to be honest.”

Miller had other offers from … Washington State, Wyoming, New Mexico State and Northern Colorado. Miller also took unofficial visits to Michigan State and Purdue last spring. Arizona State was also reportedly interested in Miller’s services. Miller was up in Boulder for Junior Day this spring, and received his first scholarship offer from the Buffs. “Every coach went out of their way to introduce themselves and tell you what they were about,” Miller told ColoradoPrepReport in March. “I appreciated that a lot.”

In his own words … I don’t think there’s been a second where I’ve thought anything different,” Miller told the Denver Post in about his early commitment. “I’ve been to almost every home game and love the atmosphere there. I made the right decision”. As to his goals as a Buff, MIller had high aspirations. “I want to be the next Nate Solder,” Miller said. “He was a dude on the line. Everyone knows that. You know the name because he was so strong — a big dude who was so strong. He could just overpower people, and I would love to be like that”.

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AHKELLO WITHERSPOON – DB (Junior College transfer)

Just the facts … Committed December 8th, became a Buff on December 18th … Witherspoon is a 6’3″, 182-pound cornerback prospect from Sacramento City Community College. Rivals bio Scout bio

What others say about Witherspoon … Witherspoon is rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, and a two star-prospect by Scout. He is be mid-year transfer, and will be eligible to participate in spring drills. Witherspoon will have four years to play three at Colorado.

“He is a big athletic corner who is smart and has very good range and speed,” said CU head coach Mike MacIntyre of Witherspoon.  “He’s unique because over the last 16 months or so, he’s really sprouted, growing almost seven inches to 6-foot-3, and he still has the same speed and quickness.”

Witherspoon has other offers from … Fresno State, UNLV, Utah State and Idaho State. After Witherspoon made his commitment to Colorado, he received late offers from Oregon State and Washington State.

In his own words … “They see me as a cornerback, which is my preference. I have good length and the ability to switch my hips”, Witherspoon told BuffStampede.com. “I have always had good footwork, too, because I used to be small. It kind of stuck with me as I grew”. Witherspoon is excited about becoming a Buff.

“Coach MacIntyre is such a great person,” Witherspoon told BuffPlayBook.com. “You can tell he really cares about his players … “CU is happy to get a big tall corner who can run,”Witherspoon said. “They were all happy with my commitment … It feels like family around this coaching staff.”

Here are some highlights from Witherspoon’s 2013 season at Sacramento City Community College.

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WYATT TUCKER SMITH – LS (Junior College transfer)

Just the facts … Committed November 24th, became a Buff on December 18th … Smith is a long-snapper from Perkinston, Mississippi. Smith is 6’3″, 230-pounds. Rivals bio Scout bio

What others say about Smith … Smith is considered a two-star prospect by both Rivals and Scout. Smith comes to Colorado as a long-snapper specialist. Smith played center at Gulf Coast Community College in Mississippi, and was rated by a service as the No. 2 long-snapper available, and Colorado needs a long-snapper. Ryan Iverson has been the long-snapper for the Buffs for the past four years. This past spring, four walk-ons were brought in to audition for the job, with Blake Allen, a freshman, winning the role as backup to Iverson this fall.

He (Smith) is an outstanding player and a great student,” MGCCC coach Steve Campbell said. “He should do well at Colorado.”

“He is an excellent long snapper, and like Ryan Iverson, he has very good speed and can get down and cover,” MacIntyre said.  “He’s very bright, and is very consistent and can handle all snaps, punt and placements.”

Smith had other offers from … Troy, though Smith did report interest from Arizona State and Florida. A junior college transfer, Smith will have three years to play two as a Buff.

In his own words … “It is an incredible place,” Smith told the Buloxi-Gulfport Sun Herald. “When I stepped off the plane, everything was perfect about it. It feels like Southern hospitality. I think the coaching staff has the program going in the right direction and the players are buying into it. There was nothing I didn’t like … Who doesn’t want to play in the Coliseum (in Los Angeles)? Colorado is in a BCS conference and the teams in the conference have a chance to compete for a national championship every year. It is the right fit for me.”

Here is a YouTube video of Wyatt Tucker Smith in action:

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LEE WALKER – WR

Just the facts … Committed December 15th, enrolled in January … Walker is a 6’0″, 170-pound wide receiver prospect from San Diego, California. Rivals bio  Scout bio

What others say about Walker … Walker was considered to be a three-star prospect by both Rivals and Scout as part of the Recruiting Class of 2013. Walker signed with the Arizona Wildcats last February, but did not qualify academically. Walker and did not enroll at Arizona this past fall or go to junior college, which is what the Arizona coaches wanted him to do. Instead, Walker took steps to qualify, putting himself in position to sign with any team … and report in January as a freshman.

In his senior season at Madison high in San Diego in 2012, Walker had 41 catches for 755 yards and 12 touchdowns for a team which went 14-1. Walker also had 549 yards returning kickoffs, and another 481 yards returning punts. Throw in 39 yards rushing and 14 yards in interception returns (he had three), and Walker had 1,838 yards of total offense his senior season.

Walker had other offers from … only UTEP, though it should be noted that Walker first committed to Arizona in August of 2012, which may have had an impact on the number of offers he received.

In his own words … “This is the best thing that could happen to me,” Walker told BuffPlayBook.com of his experiences over the past year. “I didn’t want to go to junior college. Now I have the opportunity to play in the Pac 12 and play for some great coaches … Coach Mac is a very interesting head football coach,” Walker said. “I say that because I have played for a lot of different coaches and he is very unique in the way he actually cares more about his players as individuals. He cares about his players like they are his family, that was impressive to me …  There is a lot of excitement in this program and I’m glad I’m going to be a part of it.”

Here are the YouTube highlights from Walker’s (2012) senior season:

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JOHN LISELLA – OL (gray-shirt, enrolled in January)

Just the facts … Committed June 16, 2012, enrolled this January … Lisella is an offensive lineman prospect from Littleton, Colorado (Columbine). Lisella is 6’4″, 245-pounds, and runs a 4.95 in the 40. Rivals bio Scout bio

What others say about Lisella … Lisella was rated by both Rivals and Scout as a two-star prospect as part of the Class of 2013. At Columbine as a senior in 2012, Lisella played both ways at left tackle and on the defensive line. He was a first-team all-conference and academic first-team all-state selection. The Denver Post did not rank Lisella amongst its top 15 players in the state of Colorado for the Class of 2013, but did list him amongst the others “to keep an eye on”.

Lisella had other offers from … Northern Colorado, New Mexico State and Air Force. Lisella reportedly drew interest from Connecticut, Holy Cross, Colorado State, Michigan, Princeton, Notre Dame, UCLA and Oregon State. While teams reportedly liked his athleticism, Lisella’s weight, 245 pounds, is obviously a weight under which a BCS conference offensive tackle plays. For that reason, Lisella agreed to be a grayshirt for the Class of 2013, deferring his enrollment until January, 2014.

In his own words … Over the past year, Lisella has gained over 30 pounds to his frame. “Grayshirting has been a blessing in disguise,” Lisella told BuffStampede.com. “I was obviously very, very light as a lineman when they recruited me and it has given me time to gain all this weight and just mature as a person and player. I have been working with [former Buff and former NFL lineman] Matt McChesney almost every day”.

Here are some YouTube highlights from Lisella’s senior season:

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You can look for similar bios of all of your new Buff players as soon as they officially become members of the CU Recruiting Class of 2014 this Wednesday. “The Ticker” will return around 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, with up-to-the-minute updates, with “Class of 2014 – Signed Letter of Intent” to have bios posted shortly thereafter …

Tags: Ahkello Witherspoon, Cade Apsay, Christian Shaver, Donovan Lee, Dylan Keeney, Eddy Lopez, Evan White, Grant Watanabe, Hayden Jones, Isaac Miller, Isaiah Holland, Jaisen Sanchez, Jase Franke, Jay MacIntyre, John Lisella, Josh Kaiser, Lee Walker, Leo Jackson III, Michael Mathewes, Rick Gamboa, Sam Bennion, Shay Fields, Sully Wiefels, Terran Hasselbach, Wyat Tucker Smith, Wyatt Smith
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